A bestselling biography of the late novelist Philip Roth has been touted by its publisher after its author alleges rape and sexual misconduct.
Blake Bailey – Whose Handed “Portnoy’s complaint“The author was also dropped by his literacy agency, Story Factory – for penning the book,” the publisher’s WW Norton & Co. halted his latest work on Wednesday.
“These allegations are serious. In light of that, we have decided to stop shipping and promotion. ‘Philip Roth: The BiographyThe company announced on Wednesday that any further information was pending.
The 800-page book, published on April 6, is still widely available, including Amazon, and has appeared on The New York Times and other outlets’ bestseller lists. Bailey had been working on it since 2012.
Bailey has been accused of raping at least one former student and assaulting others as an 8th grade English teacher at Lusher Middle School in New Orleans in the 1990s.
A woman who spoke on the condition of anonymity For Times-Picayune Claimed that, when confronted, Bailey defended his actions because he was “no minor or student at the time who was my student.”
“My behavior was very bad, but I did not do anything illegal,” the outlet said.
His lawyer, Billy Gibbons, Told the Los Angeles Times On Tuesday that Bailey “denies the false accusations leveled at him,” calling them “outrageous accusations” that “cannot be taken seriously.”
“Mr. C. Counsel also stated that Bailey never misbehaved with a woman nor ever forced herself on a woman. The Times-Picayune, One of the first to extend the allegations to women.
Her book on Roth had already created a # MeToo-style stir by asking questions about how “The Human Stein” novelist regarded women as characters in her book and personal life.
Bailey also documented in detail Roth’s two unhappy marriages, as well as his chronic adultery – including advances he made on a friend of his ex-wife Claire Bloom’s daughter.
Having previously written the autobiographies of John Cheever and Richard Yates, Bailey was chosen by Roth to write a bio, and before his death in 2018, Roth had unlimited access to papers and time with the author.
With post wires
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